It’s official – Marc Webb, director of Golden Globe nominated best picture (500) Days of Summer, will take the helm of the next chapter in the Spider-Man franchise. The film is scheduled for release in the summer of 2012.

“At its core, Spider-Man is a small, intimate human story about an everyday teenager that takes place in an epic super-human world. The key for us as we sought a new director was to identify filmmakers who could give sharp focus to Peter Parker’s life. We wanted someone who could capture the awe of being in Peter’s shoes so the audience could experience his sense of discovery while giving real heart to the emotion, anxiety, and recklessness of that age and coupling all of that with the adrenaline of Spider-Man’s adventure. We believe Marc Webb is the perfect choice to bring us on that journey,” said Amy Pascal, co-chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment, and Matt Tolmach, president of Columbia Pictures.

Written by James Vanderbilt, Webb will work closely with producers Avi Arad and Laura Ziskin in developing the project. It is set to begin production later this year.

Stan Lee, co-creator of Spider-Man, said, “I’m excited that Sony has chosen a director with a real penchant and understanding for the character. This is a brave, bold direction for the franchise, and I can’t wait to see what Marc comes up with next.”

This appears to confirm the rumoured greater focus on character versus action, pointing to a new direction for the friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man films. Of course, his identity remains unknown. Who will take on the great responsibility that comes with great power? Stay tuned.

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